Instep-support or arch-prop.



PATENTED MAY 7, 1907'. J. SANDLER.

INSTEP SUPPORT 0R ARGE PROP. APPLIoATIoN Hum 116.115.1906.

@mantels UNrrEDsTArns PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB SANDLER, .OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,` ASSIGNOR TO SANDLER MFG. CO., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETT A CORPORATION lOF MASSA- eHUsETTs. y

glNsTEP- fsuPPon-r on AneH-PROP.y

specification. of Letters Patent.'

Patented May 7, 1907.

'Application filed August 15, 1906. Serial No. 330,643.

To all whom, t nen/y concern:

Be 1t known that I, JAeoB SANDLnR, al

citizen of the United States, residing at Bosof boots or shoes for upholding the arch of the instep to prevent breaking down of the same, `or if in any'manner impaired, to sustain the parts in normal position and permit them to regain their normal shape' and condition. Y l The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective instep support or arch prop of a readily yielding nature to render it comfortable to thewearer and at lthe same time practical in performing its function Awithout buckling or wrinkling the adjacent leather covering or lining.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts'which will 'be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of the instep support or arch prop embodyin the features of the invention. Fig. l2 is a' ongitudinal vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. l, showing the parts in proper position. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line .3-3, Fig. 1, showing the parts in proper position;`

S'milar numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 designates ay thin sheet metal stiiie'ning late-of a resilient nature and referably formed yfrom steel. Other meta s, however, maybe used that will retain their sha e or the shape desired and also give to the so e piece 2 the necessary arch to support the instep. The plate has an edge contour conforming to that of the boot orshoe' adjacent to the instep arch, and is riveted or otherwise fastened to the sole piece 2 as at 3. One side of the plate 1 has an upwardly rejecting or laterally curved extension 4 W ich is so shaped as to conform more or less closely to the normal arch of a foot at the instep. sion is intersected by an outwardly diverging slot 5 extending in a transverse direction and communicating at its inner extremity with a longitudinal relief slot 6. The slot `5 allows for the depression of the plate and particularly'the instep of the arch formedl by the c xtension et..v The depression of the entire This up-curved lateral exten--v plate by the weight imposed thereon causes the two edges of the slot 5 to draw nearer to each other and the inner relief slot 6 permits such movement of the edges of the slot 5 toward each other without hability of buckling or fracturing the intermediate part of thcplate so that the shape ofthe entire 4plate is maintained throughout itsextent. The provision of the slots 5 and 6 yalso lobviates breaking down of the plate no matter what weight' is disposed thereon. Furthermore,

the slots encourage the plate to return to its normal position after a'maximum pressure i larly preserved with comfort tothe wearer and benefit to the boot orv shoe structurally.

It will be seen thatthe plate is longitudinally arched as well as laterally arched er upturned asv just explained and by this double arching of the plate the contour of a boot or shoe is rendered such as to fully conform to the natural shape of afoot.

What I claim is:

An instep vsupport or arch prop comprising a stationary plate of resilient material, asole piece conforming to an'instep arch, means for securing the said sti'lfening plate to the sole piece, said plate having an u Wardly curved projectionextending latera y from one side thereof, the said projection having an inwardly tapering slot Adisposed longitudinally with` respect thereto, said projection having a.slot communicating with the firstmentioned slot and transverse with respect to the alnement thereof.

In testimony whereof, I a'llx my signature in' preseneeof two Witnesses.

JACOB SANDL'ER.

Witnesses:

WILBUR` T. MCCARTY, GEo, T. JAoKsoN.

- thereon has been relieved. Therefore, the.

i shape of the instep of a boot or shoe is regu- 

